That's not up to code! - Solving untrue buildings

[jtgibson]

I've been looking more and more at the buildings in Kenshi, how none of them are built perfectly upright, and I've been sort of squirming left and right. On one hand, it's obviously a deliberate design decision, part of the unique charm of the universe and the whole ramshackle survival concept that drives the game.

On the other hand, it doesn't give us the option of having nice, cleanly built structures either.

Would it be possible to come up with a "foundation" building that allows other buildings to be built on top? The foundation would simply be a large brick platform that makes a perfectly flat and true surface that doesn't adjust itself to the terrain, with shallow sloping sides for about two metres on all sides to allow stepping onto the platform, followed by steeply sloping sides for about four metres in the event the foundation is built on steep ground, followed finally by a vertical slope in the event it is built on VERY steep ground or a cliff face.

This would give multiple uses: one, it would allow utilisation of land that would normally be unusable for buildings, but with a commensurate additional cost. Two, it would give aesthetic appeal and allow buildings to be nice and straight. Nothing is forcing players to use it, and those players who want to use it unnecessarily will pay for it, but it still enables additional options -- and clever use of these foundations on cliffsides can also act to aid in wall-building and fortification.

Multiple foundation sizes could accommodate a variety of footprints, with the largest foundations being capable of providing for a single large outpost building, or several industrial buildings.


[edit] Oh, and another thought: foundations, being made of quarried stone and brick, would be extremely difficult to destroy -- but if you destroy the foundation, all of the buildings on top collapse too. =)

[iSuck345]

Also foundations should be required if we want the buildings not to be damaged by the envoiroment e.i. : building in a swamp or in a place near a volcano can do some damage, building in a forest with plants that get in trees might affect your buildings, and building foundations can delay them.

[Santaissick]

Pretty good idea. It would add more depth to building and would allow much more space for creativity too.

But honestly, I haven't noticed any buildings being skewed. I have never build on a hillside though...

[Tolwrath]

If you're just trying to protect your buildings from the elements, such as in a swamp, you'll probably want a different sort of foundation. Like wooden/steel posts instead of a solid concrete slab.

Hmm theoretically speaking, you could have your entire outpost designed like a boardwalk/pier.

[Mattk50]

I'd be hesitant about giving foundations gameplay bonuses past more effecient town layouts and use of space, would kinda force people into using those foundations. And then the people who like the slanted stuff get peeved.

[Clawdius Talonious]

Could I build a foundation, on a foundation, on a foundation, on a foundation? Maybe put an altar on top, for the sacra... I mean, religious ceremonies? Kali Ma!

[Tolwrath]

Could I build a foundation, on a foundation, on a foundation, on a foundation? Maybe put an altar on top, for the sacra... I mean, religious ceremonies? Kali Ma!

Only if it is a shrine to the greatness of catgirls everywhere. Well, I guess just kemonomimi in general would be fine too. You could toss in some heart stealing too I guess.

[PnzrNorm]

Bumping this thread since its the most ancestral of the topic.

+1 to foundations!
+1 to constructing buildings at a level angle on hills

I think implementing the construction of custom staircases (and making the structure's blueprint placement a 2-step process, similar to RollerCoaster Tycoon) would solve the issue with foundations needing to follow the ground's normal vector.

[Rispek Cortez]

"When the threads walk, señores, we must stop the posting(?)... or lose the war."
Yes I am aware this is an extreme case of thread Necromancy.

I think this is a great idea, and I was just about to post about it, before a quick search.

I have a fantastic farm location, on a little hillside visible from Bad Teeth (and vice versa). The trouble is getting walls that are actually usable placed. I think foundations would solve this problem.

Also as previously posted in this thread, it would create a lot more usable space and interesting towns.

Foundations should cost a lot of stone, and a fair amount of iron as well, but for us "unique town" fans it would be a godsend.

[Sol Lignum]

And to support the dark deed of necroposticity, i double that, howerver, the elegant solution as i see it would be to just add a separate foundation to avery type of building, i.e. small shack foundation, storm house foundation, etc, so only specific kind of building could be put on top, and it would also immediately stick to the foundation upon selection and dragging. So you build a leveled footpring of the building, and then building itself

[Rispek Cortez]

And to support the dark deed of necroposticity, i double that, howerver, the elegant solution as i see it would be to just add a separate foundation to avery type of building, i.e. small shack foundation, storm house foundation, etc, so only specific kind of building could be put on top, and it would also immediately stick to the foundation upon selection and dragging. So you build a leveled footpring of the building, and then building itself

"Necroposticity" brilliant! Lets get Websters on the phone.

That solution would be elegant certainly, and I like it, but I suspect also very time consuming to pull off.

I was thinking just various sizes and shapes of foundations (IE. large square, small square, very small square, large triangle, small triangle, very small triangle). Have those snap together and match whatever height the first one you placed is, than from those shapes you can create whatever foundation you need for the job at hand.

Obviously if you place a foundation on arable land, that particular plot of land is no longer arable. So you couldn't use it to make flat spaces for farms, just buildings and town squares/market square type areas.

hmmm.. that just brought up another idea, we should be able to build roads inside our towns.

[Sol Lignum]

hmmm.. that just brought up another idea, we should be able to build roads inside our towns.

I think it might be planned. At least it's a very easy task to do from ingame editor, and appears to be not hard to transfer into build menu.

[Tarragon Rill]

Bumping this thread again...

I am getting tired of having to fiddle the buildings around and not be able to place them where I want if I want them to be even remotely level.

I understand some people may want this crooked look to their towns but it really bothers me. I would vote for this to be a top priority feature. either just make them be able to "snap to terrain, or snap to grid" during placement would be fine by me. no need for special foundations. just make them be able to snap to a vertical alignment grid, and give their base a bit of an extension where needed to give them some basic ability to extend into the terrain on a slope.

[Sol Lignum]

Bumping this thread again... (...)

I agree. This concerning me as well, although i found a nice level plain for my town, i see how that is a problem. No one would be able to live or work in a sloped building.

[Shidan]

I'm agreed here as well. It would make my life so much easier if there was a simple toggle to make buildings straight during placement.

As it is, I tend to spend about 30 minutes making sure a building is as flat as I can get it when building in uneven terrain. I could just ignore it... But it would just sit there staring at me... A GLARING imperfection in my base! I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!

[Tarragon Rill]

That is my problem. when I finally give up and just place it. I ALWAYS come back later and destroy the building and try again. it just bothers me too much. but this means many times I just cant get a building where I want it.